Graduation, commencement, diplomas and honors
- Graduation refers to the process of completing a degree and takes place three times per year at UMKC: at the end of each Spring, Summer and Fall semester.
- Commencement refers to the ceremony celebrating graduation and occurs twice per year, at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Diplomas are a ceremonial document indicating the degree a student earned. The transcript is the official academic record.
- Latin Honors and Dean's List are two types of honors that can be received by a student. Dean's List is awarded every term and Latin Honors is only awarded at the time of Graduation.
Graduation
Because students may work on multiple majors and minors simultaneously, there is no way for the Registration & Records office to know when a student plans to graduate. Thus, all students must notify the Registration & Records office and their own academic department of their intent to graduate by completing an Application for Graduation.
Graduation quick guide, click here
- Apply to graduate
An application for graduation form is required of all students.- The application for graduation form initiates the degree-check process. The form is also available in the UMKC Registration and Records Office and in most advising offices on campus.
- The application for graduation should be completed and submitted to the student’s academic unit. It is recommended that the form be submitted one semester prior to graduation.
- In order to graduate in any given semester, students must apply prior to the deadline for that semester, which is the end of the fourth week of classes in fall and spring semesters and at the end of the second week of classes in summer semesters.
- All undergraduate degrees have an assessment requirement. You will not graduate unless you have completed the appropriate assessment requirement(s).
- Order regalia
- There are graduation fairs in October and March, where you can order regalia for that semester's commencement ceremony, as well as graduation announcements, class rings and other graduation memorabilia.
- After the fair, visit the UMKC Bookstore to purchase graduation-related items.
- Diplomas
- All diplomas are printed as portrait style. Undergraduate and graduate diplomas are 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The diplomas for the professional degrees (law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) are 14 by 17 inches.
- Diplomas may be picked up in person beginning 40 days following the last final exam for the semester. They are located in the UMKC Registration and Records Office at 5115 Oak St., 115 Administrative Center. Students must present photo identification to pick up their diplomas.
- Diplomas not picked up in person will be mailed to students beginning 55 days following the last final exam using the address supplied on the application for graduation form.
- Professional students pick up their diploma in their academic unit.
Changes to anticipated graduation date, click here
- Students who need to alter their graduation plans must submit a new application for graduation to their academic unit.
- The semester and other information listed on the new application for graduation will be used to replace the information previously submitted.
- All deadlines for the new semester of graduation
apply to applicants who are altering their semester
of graduation.
Latin Honors
UMKC awards Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude) to the top undergraduate and first professional students in each graduating class.
Undergraduate students are eligible to be awarded their degrees with Latin Honors as determined by each of the academic units using fixed overall GPA requirements (see chart below). The fixed GPA requirements will be reviewed annually by each academic unit and changes in requirements will be submitted in writing to the Registrar by February 1 each year for inclusion in the next academic catalog.
The calculation for Latin Honors will be made using the GPA of the last 60 hours earned at UMKC, including all credits earned in the semester when the student reaches or exceeds 60 hours.
Latin Honors may be published for commencement but will be provisional until the degree is conferred.
Graduates in first professional degree programs (law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.) may be awarded degrees with Latin honors as determined by policies established by the academic unit responsible for the degree.
Latin honors will not be awarded to students in graduate (masters and doctorate level) degree programs. Students whose degrees were awarded prior to June 1, 2004, may not have Latin honors conferred retroactively to their degree.
2012-2013 Latin honors, click here
| 2012-2013 Latin Honors | |||
| Academic Unit (Undergraduate ONLY) | Summa Cum Laude | Magna Cum Laude | Cum Laude |
| Bloch School of Management | 3.850 | 3.600 | 3.500 |
| College of Arts and Sciences | 3.900 | 3.800 | 3.600 |
| Conservatory of Music and Dance | 3.975 | 3.925 | 3.800 |
| School of Biological Sciences | 3.850 | 3.750 | 3.650 |
| School of Computing and Engineering | 3.900 | 3.800 | 3.600 |
| School of Dentistry | 3.975 | 3.950 | 3.900 |
| School of Education | 3.900 | 3.800 | 3.650 |
| School of Nursing | 4.000 | 3.900 | 3.800 |
| School of Pharmacy | 3.750 | 3.600 | 3.500 |
Commencement
Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Commencement is organized by each academic unit.
- The commencement ceremony program and your privacy rights
When you have applied for graduation, your name will be selected to be printed in the commencement ceremony program. However, if you have restricted the release of your directory information per FERPA regulations, your name will not be included in the commencement program. During the semester in which you intend to graduate, you will be sent an e-mail with instructions for requesting that your name be included in the commencement program. - Privacy: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Diplomas
For a list of what appears on UMKC diploma, click here
All diplomas are printed as portrait style. Undergraduate and graduate diplomas are 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The diplomas for the professional degrees (law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) are 14 by 17 inches.
What will appear on your diploma?
- Your name
- Degree earned
- Major(s)
- Latin Honors
- Honors Program
What will not appear on your diploma?
- Minors
- Emphasis areas
- Departmental honors
When and where to pick up diplomas, click here
Diplomas may be picked up in person beginning 40 days following the last final exam for the semester. They are located in the UMKC Registration and Records Office at 5115 Oak St., 115 Administrative Center. Students must present photo identification to pick up their diplomas. Diplomas not picked up in person will be mailed to students beginning 55 days following the last final exam using the address supplied on the application for graduation form. Diplomas will not be released for students with a hold on their account. All holds must be removed.
Diplomas for the professional degrees (law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) will be dispersed from the academic unit and not the Registration and Records Office. Diplomas not picked up in person will be mailed to students beginning 55 days following the last final exam, using the address supplied on the application for graduation form.
For special delivery including overseas delivery, or if someone other
than the student is going to pick up the diploma, contact the
Registration and Records Office to make arrangements.
The student's last name, as it appears on the diploma, must correspond
with the official name on the academic record at the time diplomas are
printed.
Replacement and Duplicate diplomas, click here
Replacement or duplicate diplomas are provided at $10 each and may take from four to six weeks to process. Replacement or duplicate diplomas are printed with current University officials' signatures, and University of Missouri-Kansas City appears even in those cases when the student graduated prior to the change from the University of Kansas City. To request a replacement or duplicate diploma, complete this form and mail or fax it to the Registration and Records Office at 5115 Oak St., 115 Administrative Center.
Diplomas will not be released for students with a hold on their account. All holds must be removed. The name on record is what will be printed on the diploma. If your name has changed and you wish to have a new name reflected on your diploma, please provide a legible photocopy of your driver's license or Social Security card.
All diplomas are printed as portrait style. Undergraduate and graduate diplomas are 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The diplomas for the professional degrees (law, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) are 14 by 17 inches.
Dean's List
The Dean’s List is a unit-based student-centric recognition of excellent academic performance. Students must complete a minimum full-time program of 12 graded hours to qualify for the dean’s list. The credit/no credit option may not be used as part of the 12 graded hours. The permanent academic records for qualifying students are annotated to reflect this distinction. Official grade reports indicate students who are candidates for the Dean’s List.
Criteria for determining the GPA required for a student to be included on their unit Dean’s List will be determined by the unit Dean. The specific criteria will be published in the unit undergraduate catalog.
Dean’s List criteria will be reviewed annually by each academic unit (College/School) and changes in requirements will be submitted in writing to the Registrar by February 1 each year for inclusion in the next academic catalog.
2012-2013 Dean's List, click here
| Academic Unit | Deans List |
| Bloch School of Management | 3.800 |
| College of Arts and Sciences | 3.850 |
| Conservatory of Music and Dance | 3.900 |
| School of Biological Sciences | 3.850 |
| School of Computing and Engineering | 3.500 |
| School of Dentistry | 3.850 |
| School of Education | 3.930 |
| School of Nursing | 4.000 |
| School of Pharmacy | 3.500 |
| University College | 3.500 |